Who will referee the Clasico Copa del Rey final between Barcelona & Real Madrid and how many yellow & red cards has he dished out this season?

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has appointed Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea as the referee for the Copa del Rey final between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, scheduled for April 26, 2025, at La Cartuja Stadium in Seville.

De Burgos Bengoetxea, a seasoned official from the Basque Committee, has been officiating in La Liga since 2015 and became a FIFA-listed international referee in 2018. He has previously overseen three Clásico matches, including the 2017 Supercopa de España first leg and two encounters in 2023. This final marks his first Copa del Rey final assignment.

Assisting him with video review duties will be Pablo González Fuertes, who has officiated over 150 top-flight matches since his promotion to La Liga in 2017.

The appointment has sparked debate, particularly regarding González Fuertes’s role as VAR official. Critics, including former referee Eduardo Iturralde González, have questioned the decision, noting that González Fuertes is not a VAR specialist and suggesting that his selection may be influenced by his impending retirement. They argue that assigning a retiring official to such a critical role could minimize accountability in the event of a significant error.

As the final approaches, all eyes will be on De Burgos Bengoetxea and his officiating team to manage the high-stakes encounter with fairness and precision.